Worms in corn ears

[VIPER]

Every year it seems we get a worm or 2 in the ears of corn. Does anyone know of a good solution for stopping this?

[qrprat77]

We'd have to see it to know if it was the same bug, but we'd actually try to find them and catch em before the ear was ripe, and use them for fish bait. We'd also offer them as proof to the city hippies that our corn was organic! :)
Normally, they stayed on the end of the ear, on the bit that was likely to get chopped anyway.

[VIPER]

We'd have to see it to know if it was the same bug, but we'd actually try to find them and catch em before the ear was ripe, and use them for fish bait. We'd also offer them as proof to the city hippies that our corn was organic! :)
Normally, they stayed on the end of the ear, on the bit that was likely to get chopped anyway.

Who knows, may be as good as a chunk of ham in the bean pot.HA By the way I was born and lived in s fla many years.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

used sevin dust 2 weeks before harvest then ensure a thorough watering, rain and washing before eating. And before every jumps on a brother for being evil and using poison blahblahblah I know but i dont care.
If they are eaten they dont hurt anything but like qrprat77 said most damage is usually on the end on if they are hard at it a trail will go thru but it can be cut around.

[BioG8r]

Second what Matt says, Seven, IF you are gonna use it, should be sprayed on young - 12" or smaller plants for cut worms, 2-3' plants to take care of leaf chewers (worms and other bugs) and at EARLY silk stage to prevent ear worms and silk beetles. IF you are organically inclined same schedule for BT, Garlic or Hot Pepper spray.
Higher protein corn just to leave the buggers in there!!
I wish I could get rid of the basted birds pulling the young plants without having to listen to the blasted gas cannon, the pie plates lasted about a week before I saw one crow doing her makeup in the reflection!!!

[VIPER]

Anyone ever heard of putting castor oil on the tassels that grow out of the ears of corn? Heard that at work tonite.

[BioG8r]

I hadn't, but I looked it up and I think they meant the silks, Iowa State and others have used Soybean Oil and BT on the silks AFTER pollination with what appear to be good results. If done too early it will keep the ear from being pollinated.

More than one way to skin a cat!

[goatlady]

Any kind of oil, even corn oil!, will act as a deterent to those corn worms and also ear wigs.

[VIPER]

BioG8r you are right about the silk that grows out of the ears of corn,not sure were I got tassels from. THANKS

[1Admin]

One year we had them bad, we usually don't get them at all. Best I could figure- we planted much later than normal.